Interview: Jochen Meyer, Vodafone, on hopes and fears in the UPC

Managing IP is part of Legal Benchmarking Limited, 1-2 Paris Gardens, London, SE1 8ND

Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2026

Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement

Interview: Jochen Meyer, Vodafone, on hopes and fears in the UPC

The head of IP at Vodafone Germany has spoken about the fear that the UPC will be “imbalanced” between plaintiffs and defendants

Intervieed at Managing IP’s Patent Reform Forum in Munich on September 9, Jochen Meyer said the discussion on forum shopping showed “there are much more options and choices for the plaintiff than the defendant”.

He added: “We expect more activity from NPEs or PAEs or whatever they will be called.”

In the interview, Meyer cited the possibility to get preliminary injunctions as one issues that need to be resolved. “Another thing is the handling of bifurcation cases – whether or not the infringement suit will be stayed until the validity suit has been heard, or make sure they are heard at almost the same time, so we will not see enforceable decisions on infringement whilst the validity of the patent is still in question,” he added.



See all the interviews from Munich on Managing IP’s YouTube channel. Note that all speakers are talking in a personal capacity, and their views are not necessarily those of their employers or clients.

more from across site and SHARED ros bottom lb

More from across our site

Patrade has turned to experienced IP practitioner and business development leader Anders Isaksson to strengthen its commercial strategy and expand its reach to clients across Scandinavia
Cassie Hill, partner at Mishcon de Reya, discusses rebuilding client relationships after maternity leave and the pressures facing women at a pivotal stage of their career
Matthew Asbell discusses why empathy is important in law, being inspired by diverse workplaces and working on the latest, greatest large language model
The new partners add patent trial depth in high-value technology sectors including semiconductors, software, and cloud computing
From seller vetting and proprietary screening technology to brand collaboration and industry partnerships, Temu explains how its intellectual property enforcement programme combats infringement on its marketplace
A handful of US firms have quietly invested in European patent talent. Recent moves by Baker Botts and K&L Gates suggest that trend may be accelerating
Loke Khoon Tan and Stephanie Yip at Dentons explain what brand owners need to know ahead of January 1 2027, when updates to China’s Trade Mark Law come into force
New US bills signal that firms should work with clients to ensure they are complying with potential regulatory requirements
Octavio Espejo of Becerril, Coca & Becerril explains how sweeping patent reforms reshape filing strategies, prosecution, and divisional application practice
The UK Supreme Court’s decision in Tesla v Avanci enhances the UK's attractiveness for global FRAND battles, say lawyers at Simmons & Simmons
Gift this article